(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Public safety

Union representing provincial correctional officers says it’s ‘unacceptable’ members remain off vaccination priority list

Apr 13, 2021 | 3:25 PM

Police officers, firefighters, some grocery store workers, and public health inspectors are all scheduled to begin receiving their vaccinations within the next few weeks according to the latest update from the provincial government, but the union representing correctional officers is wondering why they are still not being included.

For months, the Saskatchewan Government Employees’ Union (SGEU) has been lobbying the government to have its members vaccinated. Barry Nowoselsky, chair of the union’s PS/GE negotiating committee, told paNOW he is very disappointed to hear they have been left off the list again.

“Quite frankly it’s unacceptable,” he said.

As of April 13, there are 71 inmates and 13 staff with active cases at the Regina Correctional Centre. Nowoselsky said they also have two active cases at Pine Grove in Prince Albert, and one at the nearby youth residence.

“At this time we’ve had over 600 inmates and staff in correctional and young offender facilites test positive and how the government can’t make the decision make them a priority is ludicrous,” he said.

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According to a press release issued Monday by the SGEU, the union states the government’s original strategy did not follow the advice provided by its own health experts who recommended that correctional facilities (deemed as “shared living settings”) be included early in Phase 2 of the vaccine plan because they are at higher risk for COVID-19 outbreaks. Instead, staff at correctional and young offender facilities were included in the same age-based vaccination plan as the general public.

Nowoselsky cited an example where more than 50 per cent of the United States have lost correctional officers due to COVID-19, and added one in three officers in Kansas, Michigan, and Arizona have tested positive.

“We shouldn’t have to see that stuff happen here before the government takes action to prevent it; instead of waiting and being reactive to it,” he said.

Moving forward, Nowoselsky said the union will continue to lobby the government to have not only correctional officers vaccinated but also inmates, explaining one cannot piecemeal the situation.

“We’ve asked this before and we’ll ask it again until the Premier or his health minister provide an answer – how many deaths, hospitalizations and people left with long-term side effects because of COVID-19 infections will it take before the government does the right thing,” he asked.

paNOW has reached out to the Ministry of Corrections for a comment, but had not received a response by publishing deadline.

Response from Prince Albert Police chief

Chief of the Prince Albert Police Service Jon Bergen told paNOW they wanted to keep everyone informed on what their concerns were and how important they believe it is to vaccinate their frontline members.

He explained when they are talking about their frontline members he means sworn members who are assigned patrol, members who support patrol who are out taking calls in the community. In addition, they also have officers from PACT, traffic, and forensic identification to name a few. He added they’re thankful they were considered in this phase of the vaccine rollout plan.

“We really appreciate the decision that was made that in the next couple weeks frontline members will be vaccinated,” Bergen said. “Two weeks doesn’t sound like long but it can’t come soon enough and we are really anxious to see needles go into the arms of our members so that they can continue to serve with the protection of the vaccine.

“When we talk about the frontline members we’re not talking about the administrative police officers like myself who have better controls in making sure that we’re following the best practices and recommendations of health,” he added. “Our frontline officers, although they have great training and protective equipment, many of environments which they respond to are outside their control and they respond because the public needs them. At times that means there isn’t time for them to be concerned about the risk of the pandemic and that puts them at risk. It’s great news to hear that they’re going to be protected with the vaccine in the coming weeks.”

Federal institution rollout

According to a statement provided to paNOW by Correctional Service Canada (CSC), the CSC will soon begin rolling out its COVID-19 vaccination plans for the second phase of the vaccine rollout, in accordance with National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidelines.

“Under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, CSC has a legal obligation to provide essential health care to federally incarcerated inmates, including vaccine administration,” the statement said.

As per the NACI guidelines, residents and staff of congregate living settings, such as correctional institutions, are included as priorities in phase two, as they are in higher-risk environments.

In January 2021, during phase one of the vaccine rollout, CSC vaccinated approximately 600 older, medically vulnerable inmates. Beginning in mid-April, CSC will offer the COVID-19 vaccine to the remaining federal inmate population in 43 correctional institutions and 14 Community Correctional Centres (CCCs) across Canada.

To complement existing provincial and territorial vaccination programs and assist with overall vaccination efforts, CSC will be offering the vaccine to institutional and CCC employees who have not already had the opportunity to be vaccinated by their province,” the CSC said.

“Our employees are essential to keeping our institutions safe and secure, and work closely with inmates to provide supports, health care and programs,” the CSC said, adding many CSC employees working in the institutions have already received their first dose of the vaccine from their province or territory.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell